Traction-engine



(No Model?) 4' Shets-Sheet 2.

' I B. S. BENSON; .TRAGTION ENGINE.

No. 249,451 Patented Nov.15,1881

WITNESSES.

INVENTOR @Sid ATTORNEY.

N PETERS. mml'nbo n ner. Washington. 12v (2.

4 SheetsShet 3.

(NeModeL).

'B. S. BENSON, TRACTION ENGINE.

. Patented Nov. 15,1881.

WITNESSES.

ATTORN EY N. PETERS. PhoWLilhugnpher, w luhlnglqn. IILC- UNITED .STATESPATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN BENSON, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

TRACTION-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 249,451, dated November15, 1881.

Application filedMarch 8, 1881. (No. model.)

To all whom it may concern Be itknown that I, BENJAMIN S. BENSON,

of Baltimore city, State of Maryland, haveinvented certain new anduseful Improvements in Traction Engincs; and I hereby declare the sameto be fully, clearly, and exactly described as follows, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, in which' i Figure l isa sideelevation of the tractionengine. Fig. 2 is an end elevation, partly insection, the part to the right of the dividingline being a section onthe line :20 w of Fig. 1, while that to the left of the same isa sectionon the line 3 y of the same figure. Fig. 3 isa plan, partly in section,of one-half of the en- Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the differtialclutch. Fig. 5 is a plan and elevation of a sprocket-wheel link. Fig. 6is an elevation, partly in section, of a track-link, its tie-rod,andfoot. Fig.7 is a plan, on a reduced scale, of the parts shown. inFigs. 5 and 6. Fig. 8 showsplans and a section of theparts of the deviceI makeuse offor steering the engine.

My present invention relates totraction-engines; and it has for itsobject to obviate the difficulties which have heretofore beenencountered in the use of devices of that class and provide an enginewhich, aside from embodying radical departures in detailfrom theconventional machines of the same general class, shall, as a whole, bemore efficient, and satisfactory than the same, more easily guided andsteered, and of such adaptability as regards the supporting feet andtrucks as to be prac' tically independent of roughness or inequality ofsurface.

In describing the machine illustrated in the accompanying drawings Ishall, for the sake of perspicuity, and to prevent the loss, on thereadel s part, of the thread of the co-operation and coaction of theparts, treat first of the construction and operation of the engine as awhole and in general terms, and then proceed to describe in detail suchparts of the same as merit further reference. Forthe sakeof brevity, andto avoid tautology, I make at this point no formal statement ofinvention, but state that the invention is made the subject of theclaims. e

Referring, now, to the accompanying drawings, and in particular to thefirst three sheets of the same, A is the main frame of the engine,consisting of four longitudinal beams, suitably braced laterallyby tiesand beams 31 H 18. On the frame are supported the boiler B and theengine. (The latter not shown.) Between the beams A on either side ofthe engine are two trucks, having flanged wheels f, whose axles arejournaled in bearings on the stringers a, which sustain the bolsters 18of the rear trucks and the supportingbeams 17 of the forward trucks. Thebolsters and beams do not rest directly upon the stringers, but V uponeross-beams 15, which are V-shaped on their upper faces in order topermit the trucks to play freely laterally. Pins or king-boltslficonnect the beams 15 with the bolsters 18 and supporting-beams 17. Be itunderstood, in a word, that the trucks have a freedom of motion withinthe beams A, both as regards. a swiveling motion about their bolts and atiltin g motion laterally and fore and aft. They are only restrained astobodily motion longitudinally or laterally. The trucks rest upon anendless railway composed of a series of links, 0, connected by tie-rodsD, which are curved downward and have attached to their lower ends thesupporting and traction feet d. e The curved ends of the tie-rods extendbackward, as shown, and are connected with the links near their oppositeends by braces. 1). Bowstring braees32 connect the rods D near theirlower ends and serve to prevent them from spreading under the weight andtraction-strain.

Midway between the track-links (see Fig.7) is a sprocket-chain ofpeculiar construction, as hereinafter set forth, the cross or tie rodserving as the cross-pin for every fourth link. The chains pass oversprocket-wheels l at each end of the main frame, which wheels aredrivenby a train of gearing arranged as follows: The crank 19 is mounted on ashaft, 19, that carries a pinion, 11, a sprocket-wheel, 1 and thefly-wheel 10, the latter being on the opposite side of the machinefromthe crank and engine, so as to preserve trim The pinion 11 meshes with awheel, 13, which is loose on the shaft 14:, which latter carries afriction-clutch, 33, which may be used as a brake in running down hilleither alone or in connection with a similar clutch on the wheel 8. (Notshown.) From the shaft 14 motion is communicated, in a mannerhereinafter more fully set forth, to the pinion 21, which drives thewheel 22, that is keyed on the rear sprocket-wheel shaft, 2. Thecorrespending shaft2 on the other side is in alignwent with the shaft 2,and is connected with it by a loose sleeve 20. From the sprocketwheel 12a chain .runs to a sprocket-wheel, 8, on the shaft 7, which lattercarries a smaller sprocket wheel, 6. This latter drives thesprocket-wheel l at the front end of the engine through the medium ofthe sprocket-wheel 5 and gear-wheels 4 and 3. These wheels are, ofcourse, of such relative size that the two wheels 1 at the opposite endsof the engine revolve in the samedirection and at the same speed. To theend that the machine may be turned in a curve it is, ofcourse, necessaryto cause the plane of the forward sprocket-wheel to incline to the'axisof the machine, and this end I attainl as follows: The wheels 1, 3, 4,and 5 are mounted in bearings on a frame, I, pivoted to the cross-beam Hat '5 and hinged at 34, so that they are capable of a swinging motionfrom sidetoside and of arising-and-fallingmotion in avertical plane,thelatter being designed to admit of the machine being run over roughground. v

A tongue, G, having double and single trees adapted for the attachmentof horses when the device is to be drawn after the manner of an ordinaryvehicle,is pivoted to the beam H and carries a threaded sleeve, 35,through which passes a screw-rod, 36, carrying a wheel, 37, from which adrive chain leads to another wheel inconvenient reach of the driversseat.

To the tongue Gis pivoted a crossbar, g,-that is connected bypivot-joints '38 to the curved ends of the frames I at. either side. InFig. 3 but one-half the engine is shown. The frame I and gear-wheels 1,3, 4, and 5 are duplicated on the side not shown. The ends carrying thebearings of the shafts 2 normally rest on the ends of the beams A.

It is obvious that upon turning the wheel 37 the rod 36 is screwed intoor out of the sleeve 35 and swings the two frames I to the right orleft. Theincident versionof the planes of the sprocket-wheels 1 resultsin laying the tracklinks in a curve, and the trucks of the wheels 7 fswing accordingly, turning the machine. 0b-

viouslya great precision and'nicety of steering result. This steeringmechanism may be used alone or in connection with that at the rear ofthe machine.

Such is, in general terms, the construction of the engine.

In operation, the wheels 1 being caused to turn, the chains E are drawnalong, carrying,

the track-links C, ties D, and feet d; The trucks run upon the lowerlinks, 0, and the machine is guided at will by the steeringmechanism,'the described construction of which sufficiently explainsitsoperation. In backing the machine it is impracticable to steer from thenormal front end, so I make use of the device at the rear end, theconstruction of which is as follows:

The parts 23 on the shaft 14 (illustrated in detail in Fig. 8) aredescribed in detail in ap- I and to it is secured a spiral pinion, 78,which meshes with a similar pinion, 77, that is mounted in a casing, 71.The shaft of 77 is inclined, as shown, and on it is mounted acrown-gear, 74, with the teeth of which a spiral, 76, on the shell 73engages.

' 72 is a spring which bears against the shell 73 and causes it to turnwith the part 71. is a strap-brake on the periphery of the shell 73. Ongriping this shell by means of the brake it is held stationary while therevolution of the shaft 14 carries the crown gear 74 around inengagement with the spiral 76. As a result,

.at each revolution one tooth passes the spiral and a positiverevolution is imparted to the wheels 77, 78, and 21 independent of thatof the shaft 14, whereby the' gearing connected with 21 travels fasterthan that on the other side of the machine, and the track is laid in acurve. 28 is a duplicate of 23, and to the disk of each is secured asleeve, 24, carrying beveled-gear wheels 17 and 25, which mesh with awheel, 26, that turns on a pin integral with a boss, 39, that is keyedto the shaft 14 between the wheels 17 and 25.

A cogged rod, 42, slides within the shaft 14, and meshes with a pivotedlug, 40, having teeth 41. Upon thrusting the rod 42 inward the lug 40engages with the wheel 17, locking it and the wheel 25 with reference tothe shaft 14,whcn the rear sprocket-wheels m ay beturned at the samerate of speed. By means of the difierential clutches the sprocket-chainsmay be driven faster or slower on one side than on the other and steerthe machine with great nicety either forward or backward.

Proceeding, now, to describe certain parts in detail, and referring toFigs. 5 and 7, E is the drive or sprocket chain, consisting of a doublerow of links, having an enlarged center, 43, and internal lugs 44 onevery other pair in the length of the chain. The pins 45 have heads 47and a reduced portion, 46, of a width equal to double the thickness ofthe link E. The internal diameter of each link at the end is equal tothe thickness of the part 46 of the pins, while the opening 43 is ofsufficient size to admit the head. To put the links together the pinsare thrust through the central portions, 43, of four links, of which themiddle pair are drawn to one side and the outside links to the other,bringing the pin into the end of the links, where the latter areproperly held apart by the shoulders and heads of the pins, as shown.The lugs 44 serve to space the central opening between the mostwidely-separated links and enter the chain properly on the wheel.

In Figs. 6 and 7 are shown the tie-rod, braces,

tracklinks, and traction-feet. Describing them i in the order named, thetie-rods D pass through holes. 55 in the ends of the links and are bentdownward and backward at48 and again at.

49, meeting the feet at at right angles. Between the track -links 0 thetierods/pass through the sprocket-chain and constitute the transversepins at those points, the links being held in place by collars 50. Thebraces b connectthe lower ends of the tie-rods with the opposite endofthe links 0, and the rods are connected transversely by bow-stringbraces .32. The object of' springing the tie-rods outa ward is to causethe feet in passing forwardto overhangthe machinery, so that any dirtthat may be carried up by the feet will not fall on the wheels orchains.

' Thetrack-linksOareofmalleableironorsteel,

and have holes in their forward ends, through which the rods D pass. Attheir rear ends they have elongated slots, 56, through which thetierodof the next track-link passes. This feature diameter, as clearlyshown inFig. 1. The intermediate links of the drive-chain of course remain tenseabout the periphery of the wheels, obviatingall danger of the pinssliding back to the central opening of the links out.

The feet at may, perhaps, be most accurately described by likening themto inverted mush- They are circular in crosssection and have arim-flange and transverse and falling rib, 51, to prevent slipping. Theboss 52, which 1 glass, the rod D nearly fitting in the narrowest part,where a pin, 54., passes through boss and rod,holdin g them inplace. Aball, 53, is placed under the rod within the boss, and'on it rests theend of the rod. It will thus be seen that thefoot can play freely in anydirection to the extent permitted by the conical hollowin g of the boss,and it always swings to a horizontal position as it approaches theground in front, or at the rear in backing, and meets the groundsquarely.

Touching details of construction, it only remains to add that the rearsprocket-wheels, l, are made susceptible ofbeing lifted to rideoverinequalities of the ground, havin g their journals in the endsof thebars 58, that are pivoted to thebcams A at 59. Guides 60, secured to thebeams, serve to hold the bars 58 and prevent i them from being laterallydisplaced, while allowing them to rise and fall freely. Thefriction-clutch 33 is a simple toggle joint brake adapted to press uponthe inside of the flange ofthe wheel.13. It is a well-known mechanical las and for the purpose set forth.

device and needs no further illustration nor description.

In order to give a slight play to the tie-rods, to allow for themovementof the feet with reference to the track-links, the tie-rods are divided,as shown in Fig. 7, and are connected by a sleeve, 110, having aset-screw. The set-screw enablesime to secure the parts of the tie-rod rrigidly together when travelingon level ground,

or to cast it loose when moving over a rough surface.

By reason of the adaptation of the various parts of the engine to travelover rough. ground, it is eminently fitted for use in connection with agang-plow, one of which I have devised for i videdwith trucks having auniversal motion about their kin g-bolts, and an endless railway,

3. ha traction-engine,a main frame provided with swiveling trucks havingflanged wheels,an d an endless railwayhaving tractionfeet, as set forth.

4. In a traction-engine, an endless railway provided with cross; tieshaving laterallyspringing traction-feet, as set forth.

5. In a traction-engine, a main frame hav- .ing at each end asprocket-wheel and gearing intermediate the same and the engine, wherebyeither wheel may be driven independently of the other, a pair offlanged-wheel swiveling trucks, and an endless'railway, as set forth.

6. In combination with the main frame and trucks, the track-links,cross-ties, and sprocketchain, the latter being intermediate thetracklinks, as set forth.

7. In combination with the main frame and trucks, the sprocket-wheels ateach end susceptible of a risin g-and-t'allin g motion with ref erenceto the frame and an endless rail way and traction-feet, as set forth.

8. In combination with the main frame, the from t sprocket-wheel frame,pivoted and hinged so as to swing laterally and vertically, as setforth. r

9. In combinationwith the main frame having guides 60, the pivoted barscarrying the journals of the rear sprocket-Wheel, asset forth.

10. In combination with the main frame consisting of four parallel beamssupported upon four swiveling trucks, the endless track. and traction-feet and driving mechanism, as set forth.

11. In a traction-engine, an endless track consisting of a series oflinks having elongated slots 56, whereby the track may be laid in acurve, as set forth. r t

12. In combination with the endless track,

IIO

the tie-rods D, curved rearward, downward, and outward, as set forth,and having the tractionfeet d. A

13. In combination with the curved tie-rods, the traction-feet pivotedto the ends of the rods and having steps 52, as set forth.

14. In combination with the track-links and sprocket-chain, the tie-rodsD, constituting transverse pins of the chain, as set forth.

15. In combination with the track-links, the sprocket-chain consistingof links having enlarged central openings, 43, and shouldered pins 45.as set forth.

16. Theendless track consisting of the tracklinks having slotted ends,the curved tie-rods passing therethrough, and the traction-feet pivotedto the ends of the tie-rods, as set forth.

17. In combination with the track-links,-the links E, having internallugs, 44, the headed and shouldered pins 45, as set forth.

18. In combination with the tie-rodsD,curved rearward, downward, andoutward, and having traction-feet (I, the bow-string braces 32, as setforth.

19. In combination with the links C, having holes 55 and slots 56, thecurved tie-rods D, having traction-feet d and braces b 32, as set forth.

20. In combination with the main frame, having front sprocket-wheelsmounted in laterallymovable bearings, mechanism for simultaneouslyinclining the planes of the sprocketwheels to the axis of the engine,whereby th track is laid in a curve, as set forth.

21. In-combination with the main frame, havin g tongue G, the frame I,bar g, rod 36, sleeve 85, and actuating mechanism, as set forth.

22. In combination with the driving mechanism and shaft 14, thedifferential clutches 23 2S, and clutch intermediate the same, as setforth. 7

23. In a traction-engine, a sprocket-wheel and track composed of linkshaving slotted ends and a sprocket-chain intermediate the track-links,whereby the chaiii con forms'to the periphery of the wheel and-theslotted links cross the faces of the wheel, as set forth.

24. In combination with the shaft 14 and sleeves 24, the diiferen tialclutches 23 28, wheels 17 25 26, and pivoted lug 40, as set forth.

25. In combination with the traction-feet having steps 52, and thetie-rods D, the balls 53, as set forth.

26. In combination with the traction-feet and track-links, the dividedtie-rods D and sprocket-links, as set forth.

27. In combination with the traction-feet and track-links, the dividedtie-rods D and sleeves 100, having clamping-screws, as set forth.

BENJAMIN s. BENSON.

Attest:

R. D. WILLIAMS, .TNo. T. MADDOX.

